The Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company is the latest local attraction to join forces with the Torbay Holiday Helpers Network (THHN) to help the charity provide entirely free holidays in the area to families who really need a break. Group General Manager Andrew Pooley said “We feel privileged to be working with THHN to offer a really special day out on our steam train and boats to families who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives. It is such an important facility and we hope to continue our close working relationship in the coming months. We’ll even offer a family ticket to attend our annual Day Out With Thomas event in October.”
Luke Tillen, founder and Chairman of the THHN said “I’m thrilled that Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company is able to offer its services to the families we help. The support we receive from so many local attractions in this area is really fantastic. We’re all lucky enough to live in this great location and to have these attractions on our doorstep. To be able to invite families who have seriously ill children, have a terminally ill parent or who have been recently bereaved to come to the English Riviera, stay in local accommodation, eat in a variety of our lovely restaurants and cafés and enjoy some of the attractions we have around is testament to the support that the businesses and people in this area have chosen to give. Without all of these contributors we couldn’t hope to provide such an extensive service”.
The THHN is a network of local businesses and groups and welcomes any offers of assistance. Luke said “If any hotel, B&B or self-catering accommodation owner might like to offer a free holiday, however short, to one of these families we’d be thrilled to hear from them. Throughout the school holidays we could accommodate 6 times the number of families that we have holidays available for. So, if anyone has a vacancy or two please let us know, however last minute it is. Many of our accommodation providers offer regular holidays but you don’t have to sign up to anything. Even if you only offer one night once ever we’d still love to hear from you.”
Since the charity was set up in 2009 over 200 free holidays have been provided. The families who benefit from the holidays are all referred by a selection of charities that the THHN work with or via a GP referral. For more information visit the charity’s website www.thhn.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.